Silver Drivers Safe Texans Safety Classes Offered
Silver Drivers Safe Texans: Partnering with Municipal and Justice (JP’s) Courts as well as law enforcement agencies to schedule Silver & Safe Mature Driver courses for at-risk mature drivers.
Participating in and successfully completing a traditional defensive driving course has been an option for decades to Texas drivers to keep a traffic violation conviction off their driving record. To help mature drivers have an alternate option from taking a traditional defensive driver’s course, experts from Silver Drivers Safe Texans are hosting a safety program designed to educate older drivers and their families.
Silver Drivers Safe Texans is a statewide grant funded by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and is part of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Silver Drivers Safe Texans is partnering with local courts and judges to provide an alternative to the traditional defensive driving course. This course, “Silver & Safe” is designed specifically for our more mature drivers over 55 years of age who have been operating motor vehicles for decades.
“As we age, changes in our vision, flexibility, strength, range of motion and even size and height may make us less comfortable and reduce our control behind the wheel,” said Cindy Kovar, Program Manager of Silver Drivers Safe Texans. “Silver & Safe Mature Driver courses educate older adults on current issues effecting their ability to safely operate motor vehicles on today’s more congested roadways.”
Trained staff from Texas A&M AgriLife will educate mature drivers on the following topics:
• Seat belt use
• Distracted driving
• Impaired and drowsy driving
• Right “fit” in vehicles
• Technology
• Speed control
“It is critically important that mature drivers make safety a personal priority,” said Cindy Kovar. “Driving today is more difficult than ever because of increased traffic congestion, longer commute distances, new technology and faster speeds. Older drivers can take important measures to mitigate the stress associated with driving.”
Silver Drivers Safe Texans offered a variety of traffic safety classes throughout Texas and all free thanks to funding by TxDOT. Another alternative is to check with their local AAA club or AARP office to take a driver safety refresher course for older road users or look into occupational therapy driving evaluation programs for individualized assessments and recommendations.
To schedule a traffic safety class in your area contact Cindy Kovar at cmkovar@ag.tamu.edu or call (979) 321-5232.